Safety ski pole

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a safety ski pole wherein a number of safety features are combined into an integral unit. The handle has a safety enhancing large top surface and a wrist strap which may be pulled off the handle against the force of a spring when the pole should be stuck. The pole proper comprises telescoped or hinged tubing sections which, against locking means, will yield to an axial impact applied to the handle or tip end of the pole. The tip itself is also yieldable to retract into the pole tubing in response to such impacts.

United States Patent 1191 Kepka et al.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 SAFETY SKI POLE [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 210,728

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 112.888. Feb. 5.

1971. abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 12, 1970 Germany 2006424 [52] US. Cl 280/11.37 B [51] Int. Cl. A63c 11/22 [58] Field of Search ..280 11.37 B, 11.37 D,

280/ll.37 H, 11.37 L, 11.37 F, 11.37 N, 11.37 2.11.371

3,378,272 4/1968 Lewis 280/1 1.37 H 2.512.985 6/1950 Tveten 280/11.37 F

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 195.360 4/1938 Switzerland 280/11.37 H 453.990 6/1968 Switzerland... 280/1 1.37 P 64.221 6/1943 Norway 280/11.37 D 605.168 11/1934 Germany 280/1 1.37 H

Primary ExaminerKenneth H. Betts Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmWo1fgang G. Fasse 5 7 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a safety ski pole wherein a number of safety features are combined into an integral unit. The handle has a safety enhancing large top surface and a wrist strap which may be pulled off the handle against the force of a spring when the pole should be stuck. The pole proper comprises telescoped or hinged tubing sections which. against locking means, will yield to an axial impact applied to the handle or tip end of the pole. The tip itself is also yieldable to retract into the pole tubing in response to such impacts.

57 Claims, 36 Drawing Figures PATENIEDMAR I 9 I974 NGE sum 02 HF 22 PATENTEUHAR 19 I974 SHEET 03 0F 22 nmdE 3 58mg 5 m3 nd-m 33338 S m S 3m PATENTEDHARIQIBM 3797.845

sum 05 [1F 22 PATENIEDMAR a 9 m4 3 Q 7 97.845

sum as HF 22 FIG.6 b

FIGSQ PATENIEU HAR I 9 I974 SHEET 0? W 22 PATENIEUMAR I 9 I974 sum 09 0F 22 PATENTEUHAR 19 I974 sum 11 HF 22 mm 3 mm mm 2 mm 3 S PATENIEDHAR 19 m4 3791845 sum 12 0F 22- FIG.

PATENTEB MAR 3 9 I974 sum 13 a? 22 2 2 mm 2 a NPQE PATENTEU W 'i IBTQ FIGIIS FIG. 16c 

1. A safety ski pole comprising a plurality of members forming an integral unit, devices for interlocking said members when said ski pole is in normal use, said interlocking devices being operative to interlock said members at a single relative position of said members, means operatively connected to said interlocking devices and responsive to a predetermined force applied simultaneously to both ends of said ski pole for releasing said interlocking devices, whereby both ends of the ski pole are moved toward each other when said force is applied.
 2. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise at least two tubings including an upper tubing and a lower tubing movably connected to each other and defining a longitudinal ski pole axis, means for supporting said interlocking devices inside said tubings for rigidly interconnecting said tubings when the ski pole is used, a handle assembly, means for locating said responsive means in said handle assembly, and control means operatively associated with said interlocking devices and with said responsive means for shifting the interlocking devices out of their locking position, whereby the tubings are movable relative to each other when said predetermined force is applied to either end of the ski pole.
 3. The safety pole according to claim 2, further comprising an elastic cushion forming the upper end of the ski pole.
 4. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said members comprise a snow disc attached to the lower one of said tubings, a ski pole tip, means for locating said tip at the outer end of the lower one of said two tubings, and wherein said interlocking devices comprise elements connected to said tip for collapsing the tip in response to the shifting of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking position, whereby the tip is movable back to said snow disc simultaneously with the movement of the lower one of said tubings.
 5. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a handle assembly, a wrist strap and means for releaseably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly, whereby the wrist strap is releasable in response to a force pulling in the direction toward the upper end of the ski pole.
 6. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said handle assembly comprises a grip, said responsive means comprising an upper end piece, means for arranging the upper end piece on top of said grip and for moving the grip toward said upper end piece in response to a predetermined force longitudinally effective on said ski pole, whereby said interlocking devices are shifted out of their interlocking position.
 7. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising means for interconnecting said tubings in a telescoping manner.
 8. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising hinge means for hinging said tubings to each other.
 9. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise spring means arranged inside said tubings and means for mounting said spring means to bias said interlocking devices into Their interlocking position, whereby a rigid interconnection of the tubings is automatically established.
 10. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein said means for arranging the upper end piece of the interlocking devices on top of said grip comprise laterally movable supporting members, said supporting members including biasing means bias said supporting members against a lateral movement.
 11. The safety ski pole according to claim 10, wherein said laterally movable support members are arranged in a position adjacent to an outside surface of said grip, whereby the support members are subject to an inwardly directed finger pressure by the hand of the skier.
 12. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, further comprising arresting means located inside said ski pole, actuating means for said arresting means operable from the outside of the ski pole for arresting the interlocking devices in their interlocking position so that the interlocking devices will remain in their interlocking position even when said predetermined force is applied to either end of the ski pole.
 13. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise spaced stop means inside said tubings and locking elements extending substantially perpendicularly relative to said longitudinal ski pole axis, said locking elements being located between said stop means for interconnecting the ski pole tubings.
 14. The safety ski pole according to claim 13, wherein said substantially perpendicularly extending locking elements comprise rigid cross bolts and spring means arranged between the rigid cross bolts for biasing the cross bolts.
 15. The safety ski pole according to claim 14, wherein said cross bolts have a perpendicular surface on their inside, said interlocking devices further comprising cylindrical spacer means inserted between said cross bolts for rigidly interconnecting the tubings, and means for connecting the spacer means through said control means to said force responsive means.
 16. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, wherein said spacer means comprise an upper portion of a conical shape which reaches into the space intermediate said cross bolts when said interlocking devices move downwardly.
 17. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising lower interlocking members located in said lower tubing and auxiliary spring means connected at one end thereof to said lower interlocking members, and abutment means in said tubings for locating the opposite end of said auxiliary spring means to provide a downwardly directed biasing force on said lower interlocking members.
 18. The safety ski pole according to claim 17, wherein said control means comprise a tightened cable for connecting said force responsive means to said lower interlocking devices.
 19. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said ski pole members comprise in addition to said upper and lower tubing forming the ski pole proper, a third tubing telescopically connected to the lower tubing, ski pole tip means connected to said third tubing, an abutment means in said lower tubing, and a compression spring arranged between the lower and third tubing, one end of said compression spring being supported by said abutment means in the lower tubing while the other end of said compression spring rests against said tip means.
 20. The safety ski pole according to claim 19, wherein said lower tubing surrounds said third tubing.
 21. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise an upper and a lower tubing, one tubing having a diameter wider than the other for slidingly receiving the other tubing in said one tubing, said interlocking devices comprising an axle supported in said wider diameter tubing, locking bars journaled on said axle in the manner of scissors and having upper and lower ends remote from said axle, resilient means interposed between said upper and lower ends of the locking bars for normally biasing said ends apart, and Means for operatively connecting said upper ends to said force responsive means, whereby said upper ends of the locking bars are moved toward each other in response to movement of said force responsive means.
 22. The safety ski pole according to claim 8, further comprising means for holding the hinge means in a fixed position relative to each other to interconnect the ski pole tubings during normal use, said holding means comprising a pin vertically inserted in said hinge means.
 23. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said force responsive means comprise a piece forming an upper end piece of the interlocking devices, said handle assembly comprising said upper end piece, a grip arranged below said upper end piece, said means for locating the upper end piece comprising guide means for reciprocably guiding said upper end piece and said grip, said guide means permitting a horizontal rotation of said upper end piece of the interlocking devices while preventing a downwardly directed movement of said end piece upon its rotation, whereby the interlocking devices are arrested in their interlocking position.
 24. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said elastic cushion at the upper end of the ski pole is made of a foam material having a closed outer skin.
 25. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said cushion at the upper end of the ski pole is a hollow body filled with gas.
 26. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said cushion at the upper end of the ski pole forms an oval cross sectional shape perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the ski pole, said oval shape having a length corresponding substantially to the width of a human hand, said cushion further comprising an upwardly bulging shape and a downwardly extending taper.
 27. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap, a handle assembly and means for releasably journaling the wrist strap to the handle assembly, said journaling means comprising an upwardly extending, resiliently yielding member, upwardly directed teeth attached to the handle assembly for cooperation with said yielding member and a rigid cross piece fitting between said yielding member and said teeth, said yielding member having an upwardly extending portion spaced from the upper ends of said teeth, and means for releasably securing an end of said wrist strap to said handle assembly through said rigid cross piece located between said yielding member and said teeth.
 28. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap and a handle assembly, said elastic cushion forming part of said handle assembly, a rigid cross piece, a clamping member held in said handle assembly and having teeth extending upwardly above a bend in said clamping member and outside said handle assembly, said elastic cushion having an upwardly extending wall portion, said rigid cross piece fitting into said bend between said cushion wall portion and said clamping member, whereby said teeth contact said upwardly extending wall portion of the cushion above said rigid cross piece, and means for releasably securing said wrist strap to said handle assembly through said rigid cross piece located in said bend.
 29. The safety ski pole according to claim 27 or wherein said rigid cross piece for supporting the wrist strap on the handle assembly comprises a larger diameter between said teeth as compared to its diameter in contact with said teeth, for preventing lateral shifting of said rigid cross piece.
 30. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a handle assembly including an elastic cushion forming an upper portion of said handle assembly and a longitudinal grip forming a lower portion of the handle assembly, said cushion and grip forming an integral unit made of elastic material, said integral unit comprising a compressible intermediate zone between said cushion and said grip which zone may be compressed by a force longitudinally effective relative to said ski pole, said compressible zone having a height such that the interlocking devices are shiftable out of their interlocking position by a downward movement of the cushion.
 31. The safety ski pole according to claim 28, wherein said interlocking devices comprise an upper end piece located in said handle assembly, said upper end piece having a rigid base portion, said clamping member comprising an outwardly extending rigid bail, the outer end of which is shaped into said teeth for holding said cross piece and means for rigidly securing said bail to said rigid base portion.
 32. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap, a handle assembly, means for releasably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly, said attaching means comprising two outwardly extending cooperating clamping elements forming upwardly pointing receiving ends outside said handle assembly at least one of said clamping elements being resiliently yieldable, means for rigidly securing said clamping elements to said ski pole inside said handle assembly and a rigid cross piece positioned between said receiving ends for holding said wrist strap.
 33. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein intermediate spaces between the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and the grip located therebelow in the handle assembly are filled with an elastic, especially with a closed cell foam material.
 34. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking devices comprise helical springs located inside the ski pole, and means for holding said springs in such positions that the springs are expanded in response to a sliding of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking positions and during the movement of said members.
 35. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising sealing sleeve means arranged to surround interconnecting zones between adjacent ski pole tubings.
 36. The safety ski pole according to claim 35, in which said upper and lower tubings have different diameters, wherein said sealing sleeve means are rigidly connected to the tubing having a larger diameter and are in sliding contact with the adjacent tubing having a narrower diameter.
 37. The safety ski pole according to claim 36, wherein the sleeve means comprise an inwardly extending intermediate ridge between the ski pole tubing having the larger diameter and openings in the ski pole tubing having the narrower diameter through which openings said interlocking devices extend laterally outwardly.
 38. The safety ski pole according to claim 9, further comprising auxiliary spring means arranged in the ski pole for facilitating the smooth and exact shifting of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking positions, and means for mounting said auxiliary spring means to act upon said interlocking devices in the direction of an unlocking shift, said auxiliary spring means having a spring force which is smaller than the spring force of the spring means which bias the interlocking devices in the direction of an interlocking shift.
 39. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, further comprising a biasing element and wherein said cylindrical spacer means which serves for interlocking the tubings is supported on said connecting means extending toward the handle assembly, said biasing element exerting a tension on said cylindrical spacer means in the direction toward the interlocking position of said cylindrical spacer means.
 40. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, further comprising longitudinally vibratable spring elements, having a predetermined vibratory maximum amplitude, said cylindrical spacer means of the interlocking devices having an effective interlocking length such that said maximum longitudinal vibration amplitude of said spring elements which acts on the cylindrical spacer means is less than said effective interlocking length of the cylindrical spacer means.
 41. The safety ski polE according to claim 40, further comprising stop means for the downward movement of the perpendicular control means which connects the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and the cylindrical spacer means of the interlocking devices in the region of the shaft of the ski pole, whereby the downward movement of the perpendicular connecting control means, calculated from the uppermost interlocking position is substantially equal to said effective interlocking length of the adjoining cylindrical spacer means.
 42. The safety ski pole according to claim 40 and, comprising a plurality of tubing connecting means between adjacent tubings, said connecting means being interconnected to the upper end piece of the interlocking elements by said control means said interlocking elements comprising effective smooth interlocking surfaces, whereby the interlocking surfaces of lower interlocking elements between lower tubing sections have a height corresponding to the total effective height of an upper interlocking element.
 43. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, further comprising leaf spring means inside one of said members, said members being telescopically connected, means for securing said leaf spring means to said one tubing in the region of the second tubing and grooves provided in said second tubing for engaging said leaf spring means after the tubings have been telescoped.
 44. The safety ski pole according to claim 43, wherein the thinner tubing of said telescoping tubing comprises at its upper end an elastic, thickened member which presses against the inside of the wider tubing.
 45. The safety ski pole according to claim 35, wherein said sleeve means which encloses interconnecting zones of adjacent ski pole tubings is made of a material highly resistant to bending, said tubings being connected in telescopic fashion.
 46. The safety ski pole according to claim 45, further comprising reinforcing insert means located in at least one of said telescoping tubings in the connecting zone between adjacent tubings and in the area where the tubings are provided with apertures for their mutual interconnection, said insert means preventing a bending of said tubings in said area.
 47. The safety ski pole according to claim 5, wherein said means for releasably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly are made of a solid synthetic plastics material which is resilient and resistant to cold, said attaching means forming an integral, one piece unit with the handle.
 48. The safety ski pole according to claim 47, wherein an inner holding member of said attaching means forms directly a part of the synthetic plastics material handle for holding a cross piece of the wrist strap.
 49. The safety ski pole according to claim 5, wherein said attaching means comprise outer and inner holding pieces which together form a funnel-like opening extending upwardly above the point at which they are closest together.
 50. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said elastic cushion forming the upper end of the ski pole and of the interlocking devices comprises lateral supporting walls pointing toward the handle, which terminate downwardly in respective edges and which project from the handle; and wherein recesses are provided on the upper end of the handle proper into which said edges of the supporting walls fit.
 51. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein the upper end piece of the interlocking devices comprises a cushion and a tubular carrier member for the cushion, which is inserted into the upper end of the upper tubing, said carrier member comprising perpendicular and horizontal guiding slots for the required upward and downward movements of the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and also for arresting these interlocking devices in their interlocking position, by rotation of said upper end piece and wherein a guiding pin which can be mounted and removed from the outside through openings in the surrounding tubing and handle extends through said guidinG slots which lie opposite one another and which are of the same type.
 52. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise interlocking elements, first and second spring means, and first means for cooperatively connecting said interlocking elements and said first and second spring means, said control means including a control member located in said handle assembly and second means for connecting said control member to said first spring means whereby said first spring means are biased in response to actuating said control member for rigidly interconnecting said tubings through said interlocking elements as long as said control member is actuated, said second connecting means including means for partially releasing said first spring means in response to deactivating said control member whereby said interlocking elements are partially released by said first spring means, but held in such an interlocking position by said second spring means that a movement of said tubings is possible relative to each other in response to an impact effective in the direction of said longitudinal ski pole axis.
 53. The safety ski pole according to claim 52, wherein said control member is a spring biased, pivotable handle flap whereby said spring bias is exerted by said first spring means.
 54. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said tip has an upper end, said tip locating means comprising supporting leaf spring means having upper ends which extend upwardly at an angle relative to said longitudinal ski pole axis so as to upwardly diverge away from said axis, means for rigidly securing said leaf spring means in said lower tubing against upward movement, said control means comprising a rod extending longitudinally through said pole and having hollow wedge means attached to its lower end, said wedge means having an outer wedge surface for separating said upper end of the leaf springs in response to a telescoping of said tubings of the ski pole, said wedge further having a bore for receiving said upper end of said ski pole tip, said locating means further comprising a shoulder between the tip and its upper end, a stop member secured against upward movement and a spring surrounding said upper end between said shoulder and said stop member, whereby said spring forces the tip out of the lower tubing in response to a withdrawal of said wedge means from between said leaf spring means.
 55. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said ski pole tip has a concave form at its lower end whereby a recess is formed, and a polymer coating having a flourine content covering said recess.
 56. The safety ski pole according to claim 55, wherein the recess is surrounded by a sharp-edged outer rim.
 57. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said ski pole tip has a concave form at its lower end whereby a recess is formed, and a polymer insert having a flourine content firmly secured in said recess. 